Islam in Daily Life

Introduction
Previously, we have looked at the following topics
1. Arabia before Islam
2. The life of Muhammad
3. Islam in Medina
4. The Sunni-Shi`a Divide
5. The Islamic understanding of God
6. The Quran and Prophetic Traditions (hadith)
7. The Hadith of Jibreel
8. The 5 Pillars

In the final couple of weeks before the Christmas
break, I want to look at some key concepts
So, tonight, we will look at the practice of Islam in our
daily lives
In particular, we will look at the following topics
Islam and Daily Life


1. Doing Islam: living ethically
2. How is the Quran used in everyday life?
Doing Islam: Living Ethically
We recently looked at the Hadith of Jibreel (Gabriel)
If you recall, this important tradition refers to three
different levels of faith
Islam, Iman and Ihsan
Can anyone remember how Muhammad talked
about Islam and Iman? What are they?
Islam: Islam is to bear witness that there is no god
but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of
God; and to perform the prayer; pay zakat; fast
Ramadan; and to perform Hajj to the House if you
are able.
Iman: It is to believe in Allah; His Angels; His
Books; His Messengers; the Last Day; and in
destinyits good and bad.
Doing Islam: Living Ethically
Ihsan (literally, doing what is good/beautiful/excellent)
In the words of Muhammad
The man said, You have spoken the truth. Now, tell me about
spiritual excellence (ihsan). The Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) replied, It is to serve Allah as though you behold Him; and
if you dont behold him, (know that) He surely sees you.
God is with those who are god-wary [literally, those who have
taqwa], and those who do what is beautiful [literally, those who
have ihsan] (16:128)
That is, ihsan means to live and serve God as though you can see him
all of the time, in whatever you do
What is taqwa?
Often translated as fear of God or, as above, God-wary
A shield: a way of acting that shields us from Gods displeasure being
conscious of God all of the time
Muhammad reported to have said:
Fear Allah wherever you may be [literally, have taqwa of Allah
wherever you may be]; follow up an evil deed with a good one
which will wipe (the former) out, and behave good-naturedly towards
people.
Doing Islam: Living Ethically
What does seeing mean?
The Quran talks about seeing, sight and perception in a number of
places
On the earth are signs for those of assured Faith, as also in your own
selves: Will ye not then see? (51:20-21)
Soon will We show them our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth),
and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the
Truth (41:53)
Reflection in the Quran (tafakkur)
The ability to consider matters and think for yourself absolutely vital
The meaning of revelation
Had We sent down this Quran on a mountain, indeed, you would have seen
it humble itself and cleave itself asunder for the fear of Allah. Such are the
similitudes which We propound to men, that may reflect [la`alahum
yatafakkarun] (59:21)

They ask you concerning wine and gambling. Say: In them is a great sin,
and some profit for me; but their sin is greater than their benefitThus does
Allah make clear to you His signs: in order that you may consider [la`alakum
tatafakkarun] (2:219)
Here, we are invited to consider the merits of alcohol
Doing Islam: Living Ethically
Contemplating creation
With it He produces for you corn, olives, date-palms, grapes
and every kind of fruit: verily in this is a sign for those who give
thought (16:11)
And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the
heavens and on earth: Behold, in that are Signs indeed for
those who reflect (45:13)
Contemplating life and death
It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death; and those that
die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has
passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to
life), but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed
verily in this are Signs for those who reflect (39:42)
Reflection and Contemplation
Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and
lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of)
creation in the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): "Our
Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee!
Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire (3:191)
Doing Islam: Living Ethically
Contemplating life and religion
Does any of you wish that he should have a garden with date
palms and vines and streams flowing underneath, and all
kinds of fruit, while he is stricken with old age and his children
are not strong - that it should be caught in a whirlwind, with fire
therein and be burnt up? Thus does Allah make clear to you
Signs: that you may consider [la`alakum tatafakkarun] (2:266)

The limits of vision
No vision can encompass Him, but He encompasses all
human vision: for He alone is Subtle Beyond Comprehension,
All-Aware. Means of insight have now come to you from your
Sustainer through this divine Message. Whoever, then,
chooses to see, does so for the benefit of His own soul; and
whoever chooses to remain blind, does so to His own harm
(Srah al-Anm 6:102-104)
That is, we are dealing with ethical living (or seeing with the heart,
you might say, and not seeing with eyes)
Doing Islam: Living Ethically
Doing what is good (and beautiful) is the key
By Time, indeed humanity is in a state of loss. Except those who
believe and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual
teaching of truth and in the mutual teaching of patience (Surah al-
`Asr, 103:1-3)
And again
Do what is good/beautiful. God loves those who do what is
good/beautiful (2:195)
God is the Protecting Friend of those who believe. He brings them
out of the darknesses into the light (2:257)
O you who have attained to faith! If you remain conscious of God,
He will endow you with a standard by which to discern the true
from the false, and will clear evil from you, and will forgive you your
mistakes: for God is limitless in the abundance of His blessing.
(Srah al-Anfl 8:29)
Struggle (jihad)
Those who struggle for Us - We shall guide them on Our paths, and
God is with those who do what is beautiful (29:69)
The mercy of God is near to those who do what is beautiful (7:56)
We have returned from the lesser jihad (battle) to the greater jihad
(jihad of the soul) - hadith
Doing Islam: Living Ethically
Living for others
It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and
the West, but righteousness is this that one should believe in Allah and
the last day and the angels and the Book and the prophets, and give
away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and
the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the emancipation
of) the captives, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate; and the
performers of their promise when they make a promise, and the patient
in distress and affliction and in time of conflicts - these are they who are
true (to themselves) and these are they who guard (against evil)
(Surah al-Baqarah 2:177)
Goodness: some further examples
Worship none but God, and do what is beautiful towards parents (2:83)
Pardon them and forgive; God loves those who do what is beautiful
(5:13)
Have patience. God will not leave to waste the wage of those who do
what is beautiful (11:115)
Good conduct?
Muhammad said: Righteousness is good character, and sin is that
which wavers in your heart and which you do not want people to know
about.
The Prophet said: There should be neither harming nor reciprocating
harm.
Doing Islam: Living Ethically
Why? For what reason?
Every soul will taste death. And We test you
with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you
will be returned
(Surah al-Anbiya 21:35)
And I did not create the Jinn and Humankind
except that they should worship Me (51:56)
So. he who has done an atom's weight of good
shall see it, and he who has done an atom's
weight of evil shall see it (99:7-8)
Ibadah = worship and service
Or, believing and doing good
Doing Islam: Living Ethically
Developing taqwa
Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother?
No! You would abhor itBut fear Allah: For Allah is Oft-
Returning, Most Merciful (Quran 49:12)
But, being human, we all fall short
Enter the gate with humility, and We will forgive you (Surah al-
Baqarah 2:58)
Forgiveness towards others
Pardon them and forgive; God loves those who do what is
beautiful (5:13)
To God belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever
is in the earth, so that He may recompense those who do the
ugly for what they have done, and recompense those who do
what is beautiful with the most beautiful (53:31)
The Prophet (alaihi al-salatu wa al-salam) is reported to
have said:
When the servant submits and his submission is beautiful, God
will acquit him of every ugly thing he approached
Doing Islam: Living Ethically
Consciousness of God is the essence of
religious practice
O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for
you, as it was prescribed for those before you,
so that you may become conscious of God
[literally, that you might have taqwa]
(Surah al-Baqarah 2:183)
Thus, the 5 Pillars are all about helping us
to become more conscious of God, and
thus better able to serve him
So, with all this in mind, how should
Muslims use the Quran in their daily lives?
The Words of the Wise

In the presence of His Glory,
Closely watch your heart,
So your thoughts wont shame you.
For He sees guilt, opinion, and desire
As plainly as a hair in pure milk
(Jalaluddin Rumi, Mathnawi I.3144-3145)

Sufyan al-Thawri (an early scholar)
A person, if he is given to reflection [tafakkur], he will derive a
lesson from everything
Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Wasiti (a medieval scholar)
So instill in yourself, O brother, shyness of God; Mighty and
Majestic is He, even if it be for an hour of the dayTell no one that
you are engaged in such a deed for fear that the light of Gods
vigilance [muraqabah] will be extinguished from your heartNever
let your heart be devoid of the realisation that God watches over
you, for the hearts delight [lies] in it; as does its tranquillity, fear,
awe, shyness and honour.
Over to you
In groups of 3, I want you to read through
the reading material
How is the Quran being used in each
different section?
Is this material relevant to daily life?
If yes, how?
More broadly, how is the Quran used in
the daily life of Muslims?